Muitos dos meus alunos detestam fazer homework (dever de casa), alguns então nem online. Desta forma fica muito difícil fixar o conteúdo aprendido em classe de 2 horas semanais.
Portanto, aqui segue um link em Inglês que destaca 6 razões para se fazer o homework.
1. Class time isn’t enough and learners need extra practice
Homework should above all else serve to review something that has been learned in class, or to offer further practice of something that was new and particularly tricky. With this in mind, make sure that whatever homework you assign can be completed by learners independently and with relative ease. Homework that gives the student an opportunity to further practice what he or she has just learned in class to further fix the concepts in their mind can be extremely worthwhile. Ideally, it should be something that is useful but that might have been boring had it been done in class (such as a gap fill text).
2. Homework helps them to remember the things they learned in class
Homework can do a great job of reinforcing the content of lessons, and provides a valuable opportunity for extra practice… before they have a chance to forget everything! Basically, homework should always supplement and click that ‘I remember’ button, so don’t assign new material because there’s a big chance that A) they will not understand it, and B) become frustrated with the tasks as well as being less open to discussing the work in class later on. This point is particularly important with classes that you see infrequently, as they have many chances to forget what you did in the last class!
3. Homework nurtures responsibility and facilitates the development of good study habits
At its best, homework helps to create an awareness of the methods of study fundamental to success in learning a language. Homework that bears this in mind will give learners the valuable experience of working to deadlines while facilitating teacher/learner interaction: once learners have completed such homework, you have to give feedback on their performance and the process as a whole.
4. Homework is a useful tool in preparing learners for tests and getting to grips with other aspects of the curriculum
Bear in mind that not all homework has to be graded, although doing so often encourages learners to actually complete the work, especially when it is geared toward some end goal such as an exam. A good thing to do in such cases is to give homework that follows the specifications of the assessment as closely as possible. What’s more, work done at home can take advantage of the quiet and private conditions needed for committed work.
5. Homework can help students to make more rapid progress in their language acquisition
Homework can provide valuable practice of skills learned in the classroom. We know that we are pushed for time and that each lesson is valuable contact time. We don’t want to be going into too much detail or doing too many tasks on one language point, regardless of whether or not the learners need it. At some point, you need to provide ways for that practice to take place in the learners’ own time, so you can get on with new stuff next lesson!
6. It can allow students to use materials and other sources of information that are not always available in the class room
Some of us have the luxury of computers and projectors in class, others do not. Some exercises that are on the net work best as self study materials anyway. Think about the resource you want learners to use and in particular whether it is more suited to classroom use or for personal study. Furthermore, assigning research tasks that require learners to go out into the wider world and independently find resources that link to what you did in class can be a useful and motivating activity.
Paula Lyra ELT School 